Acting is a talent???

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LE

So what exactly is âacting talentâ? What defines this "talent"? Weâve all heard, seen and read accounts of this or that actor being "hugely, massively, incredibly talented", but what does that actually mean?

As far as I can make out, these folks in filums and on stage are just doing what we all are capable of doing on an everyday basis, i.e. faking it to gain an, ostensible, advantage.

Iâm sure most folks can readily picture the scene where a shopkeeper fÃ¼cks off the old dosser at the high port when he comes into his shop begging for yesterdayâs buns and such, but star-turns and immediately welcomes Ms Jones from down the way with open arms and a warm smile as one of his most valued customers.

So it seems that this "acting talent" is a part of us all. But what makes an "actorâ an "actor", who can command quite obscene amounts of money for, basically, doing what we all have to do to survive?

LE

FÃ¼ck sipping meths, fella! Believe it or not, I'm genuinely interested in what make an "actor" an "actor". How do you determine that some gug like Sir Laurence Olivier is an "actor" to be immediately transported to the heights of wherever, while Sammy Ford dwells in the depths of pantomime.

What's the difference? What actually makes an "actor" an "actor"? What actually makes an "actor" a "superb actor"?

Once during a fever I remembered that when a European is dying, there is usually some sort of ceremony in which he asks the pardon of others and pardons them. I have a great many enemies, and I thought, what should my answer be if some modernized persons should ask me my views on this? After considering it, I decided: Let them go on hating me. I shall not forgive a single one of them.

LE

There's a story about one particular film starring Dustin Hoffman and Laurence Olivier (I'm sure someone will correct me on any errors. The scene involved Hoffman looking particluarly hot and tired, so he went off and thrashred himself on the running track. On his return, Olivier raised his eyebrow and asked what he was doing and why. Having heard the explanation, he asked "my dear boy, why don't you just act?"

LE

There's a story about one particular film starring Dustin Hoffman and Laurence Olivier (I'm sure someone will correct me on any errors. The scene involved Hoffman looking particluarly hot and tired, so he went off and thrashred himself on the running track. On his return, Olivier raised his eyebrow and asked what he was doing and why. Having heard the explanation, he asked "my dear boy, why don't you just act?"

MIA

I don't know what makes a 'good' actor, but there is certainly a skill involved. Just look at the amount of 2 dimensional actor dross around and compare them with some of the 'best'.

Bugsy; my daughter is taking a degree in theatre studies (wants to be a theatre director/ producer ), and is bound to have the official definition. I'll ask her and get back to you. In the meantime, keep sipping the meths

ADC

There's a story about one particular film starring Dustin Hoffman and Laurence Olivier (I'm sure someone will correct me on any errors. The scene involved Hoffman looking particluarly hot and tired, so he went off and thrashred himself on the running track. On his return, Olivier raised his eyebrow and asked what he was doing and why. Having heard the explanation, he asked "my dear boy, why don't you just act?"

LE

LE

There's a story about one particular film starring Dustin Hoffman and Laurence Olivier (I'm sure someone will correct me on any errors. The scene involved Hoffman looking particluarly hot and tired, so he went off and thrashred himself on the running track. On his return, Olivier raised his eyebrow and asked what he was doing and why. Having heard the explanation, he asked "my dear boy, why don't you just act?"